Retriever for pneumatic delivery tube carriers



Oct. 25, 1960 H. E. WALLS ETAL 2,95

RETRIEVER FOR PNEUMATIC DELIVERY was CARRIERS Filed 00L 3, 1958 INVENTOR. HARRY E. WALLS R. TORGERSON VERNON BY ATTORNEYS RETRIEVER FOR PNEUMATIC DELIVERY TUBE CARRIERS Harry E. Walls, 5105 SW. Viewpoint Terrace, and Vernon R. Torgerson, both of Portland, Oreg.; said Torgerson assignor to said Walls Filed Oct. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 765,222

1 Claim. (Cl. 294-99) The present invention relates to retrievers for pneumatic delivery tube carriers.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a retriever for recovering a pneumatic delivery t-ube carrier that has become lodged in the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a retriever of the class described above that will attach itself to the carrier with the least amount of resistance offered to its movement.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a retriever for the purpose described constructed of a very light strong material, ofiering very little resistance to the movement of the same through the pneumatic tube.

Another object of this invention is to provide a retriever that will automatically attach itself to either end of the lodged carrier for removing the same from the pneumatic tubes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a retriever structure to which a flexible steel tape is attached for easy movement through the tubes.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side View of a pneumatic tube illustrating in dotted lines a retriever travelling towards a lodged carrier;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the pneumatic tubes illustrating the lodged carrier in side elevation with the retriever secured thereto;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 which illustrates the retriever about to remove the carrier by its opposite end from that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 44 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

'Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the retrieving hook element associated with the retriever; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the assembled retriever.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference character R indicates generally a retriever constructed in accordance with the invention.

The retriever R has a cup-like body 10 having a re trieving element 11 extending from one side thereof and forming part thereof. The element '11 includes a flat spring metal strip 12 having a reverted barb 13 extending rearwardly from its tip 14, the rear of the barb 13 coming to a point 15.

Oppositely disposed from the element 11 on the body 10 is a flexible finger 16. Both the element 11 and finger 16 bear against the inner surface of the pneumatic tube 17 when being pushed through the tube 17. This brings the tip 14 of the retrieving element Ill tightly against the tube 17 so that it will pass by the relatively tight seal 18 formed on one end of the carrier 19, or past the enlarged end 20 of the carrier 19 when coming in from the opposite direction.

The body 10 of the retriever is forced through the States Fat-ear tube 17 by means of a flexible steel tape 21, which is clamped to the body 10 by a clamp 22. The tape 21 is further secured to the clamp 22 by means of a right angle bend 23, adding additional security to the connection in the event the clamp 22 would become loosened. The tape 21 is of a sufiiciently strong flexible material that will force the retriever R through the tube 17, and at the same time allow the same to make turns around bends in the tube 17.

Spacers 24 are provided on the periphery of the body (10 for centering the body 10 within the tube 17 while pushing the same therethrough.

In the operation of this new and improved retriever R, when the carrier 19 becomes lodged within the tube 17 for any reason, the retriever R is forced through the tube by means of the tape 21. The tip 14 of the retrieving element 11 passes between the sealing head 18 and the tube 17, or past the end 20 of the carrier 19, depending upon which direction the same is being brought into action.

On pulling backward on the tape 21, the point 15 will grip the rear edge 18 of the seal 18, as illustrated in Figure 2. Figure 3 illustrates how the point 15 will also grip into the surface of the enlarged head 20 when engaging the carrier '19 from the opposite direction. The element 11 and the finger 16 are each spring biased towards the tube 17 with the finger 16 serving as a stabilizer for the retrieving element 11 in its operation.

With the retriever R for pneumatic delivery tube carriers, much time is saved and the carrier is much more easily retrieved than has heretofore been the case.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A retriever for a generally cylindrical pneumatic tube carrier lodged in a generally cylindrical tube of a pneumatic tube conveyor comprising, a relatively short generally cylindrical body, a flexible metal tape of sufiicient strength to transmit thrust to said body secured to one end of said body for moving said body through the cylindrical tube, means comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced apart spacer bars on the periphery of said body for engagement with the inner surface of said cylindrical tube to maintain said body in axial alignment with said cylindrical tube, a relatively flat flexible spring metal strip having one end thereof rigidly secured to said body and the other end thereof extending longitudinally outwardly from said body oppositely of said tape, said strip normally lying parallel to the axis of said body, a barb integrally formed on the end of said strip opposite said body with said barb sloping inwardly with respect to the axis of said body toward said body, said barb being formed of flexible flat spring metal and having a pointed free end normally spaced inwardly from said strip, said strip and said barb being adapted to pass the end of said carrier on movement of said body toward said carrier with said barb engaging said carrier coupling said carrier to said body on movement of said body in the opposite direction, and a flexible guide finger on said body diametrically opposite said strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 358,132 Uhler Feb. 22, 1887 759,407 Titsworth May 10, 1904 1,402,677 Smith Jan. 3, 1922 2,246,056 McKenzie June 17, 1941 2,661,978 Lauro Dec. 8, 

